47th Super Bowl is mixing things up in ways both good and bad

For the first time since 2002, the Super Bowl will not feature a quarterback named Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger.

It will also be the first time the NFL’s championship game features a matchup of coaches who are brothers. These are only two of many story lines leading up to this weekend’s Big Game.

But the Super Bowl is much more than just a game — it’s an experience.

The two-week layoff following conference championship games gives the players a chance to recover from physical battles in the postseason. It gives the players a chance to go to the Super Bowl

site and soak up the culture and festivities preceding the game.

It also allows all the stories and controversies to rise and take hold of the surrounding media. The Harbaugh brothers have been at the epicenter of this years media frenzy. One Harbaugh (Jim)

switched quarterbacks in the middle of the year after his starter suffered a concussion. It turned out positively and actually looked genius as Colin Kaepernick has flourished into a bright, young star.

The other Harbaugh (John) fired his offensive coordinator on Dec. 10 and since has had an elite offense, racking up 90 points in their three postseason contests.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell even held a joint press conference with both head coaches, another Super Bowl first.

These were just a few of the questions asked of theopposing coaches: “Which Harbaugh dresses better?” “Which Harbaugh has a more firm handshake?” “Which Harbaugh is more handsome?”

Yes, those were all asked at the annual Media day Tuesday.

Between the brother talk, you had the always entertaining, always unpredictable Randy Moss giving us possibly the quote of the week, claiming that “I do believe that I’m the greatest receiver. No

disrespect to Jerry Rice.” To each his own, I suppose. Regardless of Moss’ outlandish comments, it gave reporters yet another story to follow.

Another notable sound-off included 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver making insincere comments about homosexuals in the NFL, saying there’s no room for them in the locker room and they

should wait 10 years after retirement to come out about their sexual orientation.

Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs joined the party by sharing his plans to go visit Hogwarts after the Super Bowl.

The whimsical atmosphere is gasoline for the media fire. Ray Lewis was the main attraction of players this year. This Sunday’s game will be the last for Lewis, who is widely considered the best

middle linebacker and one of the greatest defensive players of all time,

The talented and outspoken Raven has had an emotional rollercoster of a run during the postseason this year. His infamous walk-out dance to Nelly’s “Hot in Here” erupted throughout Baltimore’s

M & T Bank Stadium before their victory over the Colts.

Then a double-overtime thrilling victory over Denver sent Lewis and the Ravens to the AFC championship game to square off against heavily favored New England.

After their disappointing loss in last year’s championship game, Lewis and Co. walked into Foxboro with not only a chip on their shoulders but a mission to conquer the Patriot dynasty.

Lewis helped avenge that loss by beating the Patriots for a berth to the Super Bowl. Of course, the debate of Lewis’ murder trial during the year 2000 were discussed this week, a case where the linebacker was first indicted, then had charges dismissed in exchange for his testimony during the trial.

Then came the Sports Illustrated report that he used a deer antler velvet spray to recover quickly from the torn triceps he suffered earlier this season. Lewis denied the claim, of course, but nonetheless it was another Super Bowl saga.

East Coast will meet West Coast in the clash for football supremecy. Stories grow, reporters wait on the next controversial slip-up, and all of us fans await the flash of the millions of cameras during kickoff.

The build-up will never overshadow the game itself, but media day provides one hell of an entertaining plot line.